Precipitously

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Precipitous \Pre*cip"i*tous\, a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF.
     precipiteux. See {Precipice}.]
     1. Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or
        mountain.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. Headlong; as, precipitous fall.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous
        attempts. --Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous
        `Hush!'" --Mrs. Browning.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Pre*cip"i*tous*ly}, adv. --
        {Pre*cip"i*tous*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  precipitously
       adv 1: very suddenly and to a great degree; "conditions that
              precipitously increase the birthrate"; "prices rose
              sharply" [syn: {sharply}]
       2: abruptly; in a precipitous manner; "the mountains rose
          precipitously from the shore"